Brisbane G20: Police and protesters lock down final plans for leader's forum

Queensland Police have appointed negotiators to liaise with protest groups in an effort to avoid the violent confrontations that have plagued previous G20s.

Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll, who is heading Queensland Police Service's (QPS) Brisbane G20 response, said they had taken those examples on board from previous years where violent minorities triggered volatile clashes.

In London 2009, police were criticised for excessive use of force.

A year later in Toronto, 1,100 people were arrested but only 44 were charged.

Once again, police were heavily criticised and reviews found there had been breaches of human rights.

"There were extraordinary lessons that came out of Toronto and I feel very, very comfortable those lessons have been implemented in our planning," Assistant Commissioner Carroll told 7.30 Queensland.

She said the QPS was aiming to set a new standard by employing crowd behaviour psychology to keep things calm.

Instead of issuing permits, police negotiators were talking about events and marches directly with the groups.

Assistant Commissioner Carroll said the negotiators would be assigned to specific groups and events on the day.

"If there are issues arising we can immediately start talking to organisers to alert them or so they can alert us," she said.

So far, police negotiators have engaged with 24 groups, but it is highly likely there will be others that will not be known until the event.

We don't want to see those scenes, this is Brisbane, this is not another city we want peaceful, respectful protest where everyone gets to have their say

Tony Clark, police negotiator

Adrian Skeritt, one of the organisers of the BrisCAN protest group, said his group had been in close contact with police.

"We are 100 per cent committed to a peaceful rally," Mr Skeritt said.

"We've communicated that very clearly to the police liaison officers we have spoken with."

Assistant Commissioner Carroll said the QPS would protect people's right to free speech but would not tolerate civil disobedience.

"We've always said we will support peaceful and lawful protest, however, if there is damage caused, if there's disruption to the event or anyone's hurt we will be very, very swift in our action," she said.

Crowd psychology has come a long way

Psychologist Dr Alex Haslem, who specialises in crowd behaviour psychology, said crowd psychology had come a long way since scientists started searching for solutions to football hooligans.

He said once police viewed crowds as huge angry mobs but that it had changed.

"Most of the people in crowds are there for a good reason," he said.

"They're actually exercising their legitimate rights, whether it's to go to a football match or to protest.

"If you treat that group of people as if they're just all criminals then they will turn against the police and authorities and align themselves with those elements who are intent on violence.

"So, actually you get a spiral of activity which is very, very destructive, very, very counter-productive."

Tony Clark, a police negotiator and one of the team that will talk to protestors throughout the G20, agreed with the psychology.

"One thing you notice consistently about Australians is they will not tolerate injustice and there's nothing more unifying than when somebody gets the rough end of the stick," he said.

"We don't want to see those scenes, this is Brisbane, this is not another city, we want peaceful, respectful protest where everyone gets to have their say."

Dr Haslem said the the evidence was clear, and ensuring police and protester groups were on the same team would avoid a situation like Toronto.

"Where there are pockets of problems you go in and deal with those but you embrace a mindset that the majority of people are here to do something legitimate and reasonable," he said.

"We want to allow them to do that and where the police actually engage constructively with crowds in that way, the crowds actually self-police and say we don’t want this fringe element in here spoiling our parade or protest or game of football.